NULGE Delta chapter staged peaceful protest over unpaid 13 months’ salary

By Eduje Martins

The Nigerian union of local government employee (NULGE) of Delta state chapter has staged a peaceful protest against the state government for not paying them 13 months salaries arrears.

The protest which was staged on the 24 May 2017 in Warri metropolis was organized by the 25 (NULGE) of Delta state.

The protest March which took off from the Warri South Local Government Secretariat with Solidarity Songs and plea cards with Inscriptions “Okowa Pay Us Our Money Our Children Are Dying” through the Main Market Road to the Okere junction was led by the state (NULGE) chairman Comrade Zico Okudi and other branch union chairmen.

peaceful protest against the state government for not paying them 13 months salaries arrears

When the March protest got to Okere junction, the chairman of the state union addressed the Public why they are protesting, he also address the public at Ajanimugha and Ogunu road and from there to NPA by pass road for moving finally where the rally started. The peaceful protest was peaceful as the police were on ground to maintain peace and order as the rally was in progress to avoid hoodlums from hijacking it.

While speaking to the press the state Union Chairman, expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the protest stressing that the purpose of the rally was to alert the public about their Sufferings, because the State Government is owing them 13 Months’ salary and arrears. Pointing out that their children are dying of hunger and Starvation and the means to pay their school fees is no longer there stressing that  most of the workers are sick at the hospital bed and cannot afford their hospital bills, Some are dead in this period under review.

He also pointed out that most of the workers have been driven from their houses by their Landlords rendering them homeless with their families and yet they have money somewhere unpaid.

NULGE Delta chapter staged peaceful protest over unpaid 13 months’ salary

He also noted that the workers borrowed money to go to work every day to avoid being sack. He used the medium to warn the state government to stop harassing the workers and this has to stop. If they refused to answer us after the Mother Rally at Asaba, the workers will have no option than to down tools and stay at home until they are paid their salaries.

Although, he said that series of meetings has been held between the workers Union and the State Government, but all agreement reached has not met by the State Government. What they need now is autonomous power to enable the Local Government run the affairs of it’s workers directly.

NULGE Delta chapter staged peaceful protest over unpaid 13 months’ salary

The Branch Union Chairman Comrade Tuoyo  Ajinomistan and the branch treasurer Comrade Ogbene Hitter Obature respectively, who spoke with Isoko Mirror shared the same view with the State Union Chairman but with pains and tears described Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as a wicked and heartless for denying them their wages and publicly said that the State government is not owing workers and stressed that the only solution now is for the workers to stay at home to enable the local government get it’s autonomy.